FORMS OF TREES FOR LONG PRUNING. 65 



way of managing the shoots. It is true we can 

 find, especially in the French works, a great variety 

 of shapes indicated as suitable, according to circum- 

 stances, but many of them are too fantastic to be 

 of any practical use. Examining them is not, 

 however, without profit, for we may generally 

 trace in them some leading principle based on re- 

 liable experience. Thus the student will discover 

 that the chief aim and object steadily adhered to, 

 has generally been, to divide, as near the base of 

 the tree as possible, the main current of the 

 ascending sap, into two well-balanced portions. 

 Wherever this leading principle has been departed 

 from, it will be seen that the object then in view 

 was to cover a somewhat lofty wall in the quickest 

 manner, without, at the same time, sacrificing the 

 claim of the lower branches to be properly consti- 

 tuted. For this purpose, the main central stem 

 has been provided, much less lateral expansion 

 has been allowed, whilst the lowest branches have 

 sometimes been turned upwards at their extremi- 

 ties, to favour their development, for that develop- 

 ment is always endangered under this form. It is 

 evident that walls of 9 or 10 feet in height, which 

 are by no means the worst suited for many loca- 

 lities, require a shape combining great power of 

 lateral expansion, without sacrificing the harmoni- 

 ous proportions of the whole tree. To accomplish 



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